A Review of the Montblanc M in Red

[sannidh]

PRELUDE

In the search of suitable replacements for a Meisterstuck Doue FP 145

My meticulously planned fountain pen hiatuses are occasionally disrupted by the well-meaning members of my family. Instead of appreciating my carefully timed fountain pen acquisitions, they enthusiastically offer advice on investments, the time value of money, and everything in between. To add a twist to the tale, they threw me a curveball last year by gifting a Meisterstück Doue FP 145 LE, even though I had only bought a total of three fountain pens in the last three years. If we exclude the Opus 88, then it's just two.
 

The Doue 145 is undeniably a beautiful pen, but I found myself wondering if I could ever use it with its slim metal section and rather shortish nib. Determined to find a more suitable replacement, I revisited the local MB Boutique. While Montblanc's customer service remains top-notch for pens within the two-year warranty period, they seem to derive more delight from pens outside the warranty period than their customers do.

    Faced with the task of choosing two pens to match the value of the pricier Doue, I was drawn to a Naruto LeGrand 146. Then, the salesperson revealed his secret NOS drawer, housing various pens, including a Great Characters Walt Disney FP. Opting for the Montblanc M, not only because its 2018 price, combined with the Naruto, matched the total credit value for the Doue, but also because it simply looked nicer. And here goes the review....

 

If you like a pictorial blogger view, here is the link:
A Review of the Montblanc M in Red

 

PRESENTATION (6/6)

Usual MB 

The usual MB single pen box. The standard Montblanc single pen box with no customisation, with the only variation being the red cardboard sleeve that encases the box. The RED collection boasts a charitable initiative, contributing less than 1% (€5) towards fighting HIV/AIDS programs. It's almost as if Montblanc is tackling HIV/AIDS single-handedly, making minuscule donations of €5 at a time, all while charging the end customer a whopping €540+. As Master Yoda famously said, “Do or do not. There is no try”.

    The pen securely nestles within a cushioned and somewhat snug slot inside the box, accompanied by a complimentary cartridge filled with black ink. However, it seems that most of the ink inside the cartridge had evaporated during its 5 years of shelf-living.

 

DESIGN (6/6)

From the likes of the Apple Watch 

The Montblanc M, available today in three finishes—Ultra Black, RED, and RED Signature—has been designed by Marc Newson, renowned for his work on the Apple Watch. Newson has successfully blended functionality with elegance, anchoring the design firmly outside the tradition for Montblanc.
The shape of the pen is particularly appealing in modern pen terms. It boasts a perfect cylindrical shape with zero taper and rounded ends, except for the flat section, commonly referred to as the “plateau” at the end of the barrel. The platinized clip is a personal favourite; it avoids the cheap look of the Safari, perhaps because it's not oversized and doesn't unlawfully occupy a third of the cap's surface area.

The glossy and bright red finish mirrors background lights and hues effectively. Upon uncapping, one notable feature is the novel use of magnets to secure the cap. The snap cap rotates itself to align its magnetic poles perfectly, ensuring the clip and plateau on the barrel are perfectly aligned on a plane. A soft snap securely seals the cap, earning full marks here. According to Red Dot Project award records, the snowflake emblem made of white resin is ultrasonically welded onto the plateau and then milled with a diamond tool to maintain flatness. The design reflects a harmonious flow and is truly eye-catching.

The cap, adorned with the snowflake emblem on top like regular Montblanc pens, exhibits impeccable overall quality of work. In certain lighting conditions, the magnetic insert is faintly visible inside the cap.

 

The knurled platinized metal section adds enough weight to balance an otherwise light barrel. Due to the flat plateau on the barrel, the cap cannot be posted. The section, embossed with the MONTBLANC brand name five times on the visible rear ring where the cap snaps on, is somewhat short and not ideal for longer writing sessions. More on that later.

 

FILLING & CLEANING SYSTEMS (4/6)

Cartridge & No Converter

 

This is where, like many other fountain pen users, I express my concerns. It's worth noting that this pen only supports standard international short cartridges, and none of the available converters are compatible due to the featured plateau on the barrel. On the positive side, the pen accepts short international cartridges or proprietary MB cartridges, limiting its cartridge capacity to 0.5 ml. The form of the pen, while aesthetically pleasing, somewhat restricts its functionality as part of the design. Perhaps because the pen was conceived in this digital age, the designer didn't anticipate it being used extensively.

 

Additionally, cleaning the section with running tap water is an easy process.

 

NIB - ALL THAT MATTERS (6/6)

The two toned rhodium ruthenium stunner

 

The 14k nib is claimed to be handcrafted by Montblanc in a series of 30 steps. Rhodium-coated with a dark grey ruthenium-coated inlay, this nib is a stunner. I particularly love the shape of the nib, which comes in two widths - Fine and Medium, as far as I know.
 

    A dazzling cylindrical flow of silvery rhodium bounds the dark grey ruthenium inlay with well-defined contours. Just below the circular breather hole, the 'M' logo rests within an encircled star. The tail end specifies the composition 'Au585' of the gold-alloy, and the brand name 'MONTBLANC' rests just above the tail. Between those, a hallmark of 'StOD' inside a crossed ellipse adds a touch of elegance. As always, the nib itself doesn't mention the width explicitly, but a sticker at the piston end of the barrel provides all the necessary details.

Once you turn the nib, you'll behold a somewhat unconventionally shaped black glossy feed that seamlessly matches the curvature of the pen. Apart from an air hole, there is nothing else in the feed, although the nib runs almost medium wet.

 

PHYSICS OF IT (5/6) – RELATIVELY SPEAKING

The Newtonian Laws

The overall capped length is around 14 cm. As perhaps mandated by Mr. Newson, I have to use the pen un-posted. Although the section has a somewhat comfortable girth, the shortest length of the section of around 2 cm with a step from the barrel does make it less than ideal to use it as a workhorse. The metallic section balances the weight of 19g pretty well.

 

Below are the pictures along with a Conid Minimalistica for a comparative reference. The Minimalistica is super comfortable for me, here are the dimensions for the Montblanc M.

• Uncapped Length ~ 12.5 cm
• Total Length ~ 14 cm

• Exposed Nib Leverage ~ 1.6 cm (A #6 nib has typically 2.4 cm)

• The weight of the pen is comforting even without the cap.

• Overall Max Weight ~ 27 g (with a cartridge, without cap ~18.75 g)

ECONOMIC VALUE (0/0)

FOC for me

No comments. No rating, as I paid nothing

 

WRITING & FINAL COMMENTS (5.4/6)

Writes well

 

The writing experience is quite pleasant, albeit with a relatively stiff nib. It does possess a hint of tooth and precisely the kind of control you'd expect from a well-tuned nib. There is a certain degree of softness in the nib, though minimal line variation occurs with pressure. Lines dry in 30 seconds with MB Toffee brown ink on Endless Regalia 80 GSM paper, and the line width is sufficient to display some shading. The nib skipped on the black cartridges (the salesman included a couple of cartridge packs), but it performs flawlessly on the brown ones, offering a steady ink flow with no drying issues.

 

However, the length of the section, along with the step, leaves something to be desired in an otherwise excellently designed fountain pen. The nib leverage is minimal, so you inevitably touch the step from the barrel. With sweat, the knurling on the grip loses efficiency, unlike a Conid Kingsize with a titanium section. The weight, balance, and aesthetics of the Montblanc M surpass present standards. I believe Montblanc has successfully created a modern pen.

Thank you for going through the review. 
You can find other pen and paraphernalia reviews here.

 
REFERENCES

Mark Newson - M Red
Red Dot Project

 

PS. I am posting a fountain pen review after 4 long years and my 2 year old keeps me totally occupied. 

[jchch1950]

Thank you for the review. The pen is very usable if you keep a cartridge at hand.

[InesF]

Thank you, @sannidh, for this comprehensive review with 4 years background and for so many photos of impressive quality and dust-free detail!  (does your 2 years old child not produce excess dust and fuzz?  )

 

My MB M black arrived last Friday ..  .. and had to be cleaned as it was a used model. However, I agree with all you told about form and function (except longer writing test I'm still lacking). In addition, the black model is an understatement, much to my liking.

 

The cartridge / no converter thing sounds like a big disadvantage - but is not, because of:

1) you can re-fill any empty cartridge with bottled ink of your preference

and

2) the original modern normal-sized Waterman converter fits perfectly! (at least in my black M)

 

I found it a bit disturbing that the magnetic cap does not fully close by its own force. The cap of my M behaves like a usual snap-cap wich makes a nice "click" on closing by hand.

[mizgeorge]

Excellent review - thank you @sannidh.

 

It goes completely against the grain for my usual preferences, but I have to admit that this is a pen I covet.

[kazoolaw]

Well done.  Your explanations let me figure out how I would react to the pen in use (though not in the market).

 

Is the flattened barrel only a cosmetic feature?  Does it have any impact during writing?

 

Last question:  what does the StOD inside crossed ellipse mean?

 

Thanks again.

[sannidh]

On 1/16/2024 at 8:35 AM, jchch1950 said:

Thank you for the review. The pen is very usable if you keep a cartridge at hand.

Thank you @jchch1950for your kind feedback. I do keep the box of brown cartridges in my bag these days 🙂

On 1/16/2024 at 6:15 PM, InesF said:

Thank you, @sannidh, for this comprehensive review with 4 years background and for so many photos of impressive quality and dust-free detail!  (does your 2 years old child not produce excess dust and fuzz?  )

 

My MB M black arrived last Friday ..  .. and had to be cleaned as it was a used model. However, I agree with all you told about form and function (except longer writing test I'm still lacking). In addition, the black model is an understatement, much to my liking.

 

The cartridge / no converter thing sounds like a big disadvantage - but is not, because of:

1) you can re-fill any empty cartridge with bottled ink of your preference

and

2) the original modern normal-sized Waterman converter fits perfectly! (at least in my black M)

 

I found it a bit disturbing that the magnetic cap does not fully close by its own force. The cap of my M behaves like a usual snap-cap wich makes a nice "click" on closing by hand.

That's super-awesome, @InesF! Ultra-black is clearly the best looker. Tried a few converters—FCD, Cross, Kaweco—per another FPN thread, then gave up. Trying to locate my old Phileas(es); they vanished, maybe due to neglect. All pics are taken strictly during the toddler's afternoon nap 😴. He's a fan of my pens, loves the camera, and perhaps fancies himself a Pilot Parallel pro. Our walls are his Tomoe River 😅. Totally agree on refilling cartridges; my only issue is they act pricey when 1/3 full. Unlike a converter, where you can give the piston a nudge. Ha ha, I'm a force-push 🖐️ cap-settler now and have undergone the same pain as you.

On 1/16/2024 at 6:46 PM, mizgeorge said:

Excellent review - thank you @sannidh.

 

It goes completely against the grain for my usual preferences, but I have to admit that this is a pen I covet.

Thank you @mizgeorge. It's kind of against my usual preferences too, but it's a nice to have pen. Now I have grown fond of it.

1 hour ago, kazoolaw said:

Well done.  Your explanations let me figure out how I would react to the pen in use (though not in the market).

 

Is the flattened barrel only a cosmetic feature?  Does it have any impact during writing?

 

Last question:  what does the StOD inside crossed ellipse mean?

 

Thanks again.

I did not notice any impact from the flattened barrel during writing, as it constitutes a small proportion of the pen, and the curvature rests on the webbing between my thumb and index finger. I can't recall precisely, but the StOD with the crossed O is a Montblanc hallmark registered in Spain. It's likely a more recent addition (from 2000 onwards), as an older 146 I own does not bear that hallmark.

[kazoolaw]

I appreciate your quick answer.

[sannidh]

On 1/17/2024 at 11:00 PM, kazoolaw said:

I appreciate your quick answer.

Thank you

[donnweinberg]

Great review.  My only serious complaint about the pen is that the step-down from the barrel to the section feels unpleasantly sharp on the fingers.

[sannidh]

Thank you for your kind feedback  @donnweinberg. I would agree with you, as I use it only for short writing sessions.

[krayzie]

Very good review thanks! I managed to track down the first version of the Montblanc M fountain pen, with the initials "MN" on a medium nib and gloss black body at a local store. I have big hands so just holding the ribbed section felt pretty good and really not any better or worse than my old Lamy Persona.

 

If you need to clean the Montblanc M fountain pen effectively, I just figured out today that the Platinum Fountain Pen Cleaning Kit (International / European Version) comes with a plastic bulb that will plug and play perfectly out of the box.

 

Unfortunately I still haven't found a converter that works with this pen, despite all the past postings about successfully using the Schmidt K2 and K5 piston converters (I tried these and they don't seem to fit, as I didn't want to force anything in). Just ordered a Waterman S0112881 slim converter from Amazon and it fits perfect but only for a few times before it fell off on its own lol! Good thing I didn't pump it with ink.

 

Anyway off I went with the standard Montblanc royal blue cartridge on Rhodia 80g paper. Interesting even tho the label on the end read M for medium nib, it really writes the same line width as a Lamy fine nib. The nib is also very stiff and feels more like my Platinum 90th Anniversary 25G pen medium nib where it leans towards a pencil like drag feel. Too bad the cap can't post otherwise it would be my perfect pen.

 

Rating (all four with similar line width):

 

(Wet and Smooth) Lamy 2000 14k fine nib -> Lamy Persona 14k fine nib -> Montblanc M 14k medium nib -> Platinum 25G 18k medium nib (Stiff Pencil-like)

[austollie]

Thanks for the excellent review.  I really like the aesthetic of this pen and if it wasn't for the high price, which I find hard to justify to myself and impossible to justify to my significant other, this pen would have made it into my collection some years ago.  The styling reminds me a little bit of the far more humble Parker 25 (one of my favourites).

[donnweinberg]

12 hours ago, austollie said:

Thanks for the excellent review.  I really like the aesthetic of this pen and if it wasn't for the high price, which I find hard to justify to myself and impossible to justify to my significant other, this pen would have made it into my collection some years ago.  The styling reminds me a little bit of the far more humble Parker 25 (one of my favourites).

 

Hi, austollie.  An exponentially less expensive alternative -- a replica -- that looks just like the original is available from various Chinese sellers.  I've purchased several on Ebay and am quite happy with them.  If you're interested, I can post some photos of what I've got.

[austollie]

5 hours ago, donnweinberg said:

If you're interested, I can post some photos of what I've got.

 

Oh yes please!  I have respect for copyright and intellectual property rights, so I won't buy direct clones, but if there are pens that have been 'inspired' by (rather than directly copied from) this marvellous MB, I'd love to see the pics.

 

I'm a great fan of the Lamy 2000 (one of my daily writers) and when I bought the Kaco Edge, which has clearly been inspired by the Lamy 2000 without actually copying it, I couldn't believe how good it was at a small fraction of the cost.  I prefer cartridge to piston fillers and in that respect the Kaco is ahead of the Lamy product in my book (others will likely see it differently).  

[krayzie]

23 hours ago, donnweinberg said:

 

Hi, austollie.  An exponentially less expensive alternative -- a replica -- that looks just like the original is available from various Chinese sellers.  I've purchased several on Ebay and am quite happy with them.  If you're interested, I can post some photos of what I've got.

I checked out that website that sells the replicas and the only versions they didn't do is the ballpoint and screenwriter.

 

Sometimes makes one wonder where MB actually make their parts as if the country of origin on the box and papers don't offer enough clues lol! 

 

If I would take a wild guess, everything but the nib section (where Made in Germany is stamped) are imported for assembly which wouldn't surprise me if that's really the case. Alot of Swiss watches have been doing this for decades but I digress.

 

Disclaimer: had a 144 from the early 80's as my first fountain pen where everything was stamped W Germany.

[krayzie]

BTW the only thing I would correct on OP's review is that the last available version of the Montblanc M was actually the gloss black with the ability to post on the rollerball and ballpoint versions (I also have these and the model numbers are different from the launch models) as the Ultra Black was discontinued due to chipping on the matte finish, so they went back to the original finish but kept the added magnet on the butt end (the fountain version doesn't post still).

 

Also you can't just take the fountain pen nib section and screw it onto the barrels that can post with the extra magnet, as the sections won't align properly after threading in fully. However the caps do appear identical.

 

All versions of the Montblanc M have been discontinued since 2020 so it had a good 5 year run. I had to go all over town just to track them down in recent weeks.

[donnweinberg]

17 hours ago, austollie said:

Oh yes please!  I have respect for copyright and intellectual property rights, so I won't buy direct clones, but if there are pens that have been 'inspired' by (rather than directly copied from) this marvellous MB, I'd love to see the pics.

 

The Chinese replicas are "direct clones," but the sellers don't attempt to fool anyone, as they all appear to characterize these as "replicas."  They even have the hidden magnet that makes the cap attract to the barrel. The nibs have all the Montblanc badging but are really plated stainless steel.  Here are representative photos of the replicas in black, white, and blue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't find the replica FP in the red color, but I was able to get the rollerball in red and burgundy.

[austollie]

9 hours ago, donnweinberg said:

The Chinese replicas are "direct clones,"

Thanks very much for posting.  The pictures look great.  I will probably pass, given the clone issue.

[sannidh]

On 3/21/2024 at 4:46 AM, krayzie said:

Very good review thanks! I managed to track down the first version of the Montblanc M fountain pen, with the initials "MN" on a medium nib and gloss black body at a local store. I have big hands so just holding the ribbed section felt pretty good and really not any better or worse than my old Lamy Persona.

 

If you need to clean the Montblanc M fountain pen effectively, I just figured out today that the Platinum Fountain Pen Cleaning Kit (International / European Version) comes with a plastic bulb that will plug and play perfectly out of the box.

 

Unfortunately I still haven't found a converter that works with this pen, despite all the past postings about successfully using the Schmidt K2 and K5 piston converters (I tried these and they don't seem to fit, as I didn't want to force anything in). Just ordered a Waterman S0112881 slim converter from Amazon and it fits perfect but only for a few times before it fell off on its own lol! Good thing I didn't pump it with ink.

 

Anyway off I went with the standard Montblanc royal blue cartridge on Rhodia 80g paper. Interesting even tho the label on the end read M for medium nib, it really writes the same line width as a Lamy fine nib. The nib is also very stiff and feels more like my Platinum 90th Anniversary 25G pen medium nib where it leans towards a pencil like drag feel. Too bad the cap can't post otherwise it would be my perfect pen.

 

Rating (all four with similar line width):

 

(Wet and Smooth) Lamy 2000 14k fine nib -> Lamy Persona 14k fine nib -> Montblanc M 14k medium nib -> Platinum 25G 18k medium nib (Stiff Pencil-like)

 

Thank you for sharing your perspective, @krayzie, and of course for your kind feedback. Interestingly, I happen to have the Platinum International Kit as well. I'll give the Waterman converter a try; although, I'm not certain if the Phileas used the slim variant or not. I agree with your observation. I have a fine nib, and it writes thinner than a Japanese medium on both TR paper and Endless Regalia Paper. In my world, the Pilot Vanishing Point 18k medium nib ranks higher than the Lamy 2000 fine nib, followed by the Montblanc medium.

On 3/23/2024 at 8:43 AM, austollie said:

Thanks for the excellent review.  I really like the aesthetic of this pen and if it wasn't for the high price, which I find hard to justify to myself and impossible to justify to my significant other, this pen would have made it into my collection some years ago.  The styling reminds me a little bit of the far more humble Parker 25 (one of my favourites).

Thank you @austollie.
I understand your reluctance, the latter being a significant obstruction for sure! Interestingly, there are considerable stocks of Parker 25 fountain pens available in some fountain pen shops, priced in the range of $15-20 per piece. Please do not buy online (lots of scams happening these days), it may be safer to get it through a friend.

13 hours ago, krayzie said:

BTW the only thing I would correct on OP's review is that the last available version of the Montblanc M was actually the gloss black with the ability to post on the rollerball and ballpoint versions (I also have these and the model numbers are different from the launch models) as the Ultra Black was discontinued due to chipping on the matte finish, so they went back to the original finish but kept the added magnet on the butt end (the fountain version doesn't post still).

 

Also you can't just take the fountain pen nib section and screw it onto the barrels that can post with the extra magnet, as the sections won't align properly after threading in fully. However the caps do appear identical.

 

All versions of the Montblanc M have been discontinued since 2020 so it had a good 5 year run. I had to go all over town just to track them down in recent weeks.

Wow! I never knew that. And it's pretty interesting they made the design changes perhaps based on user feedback.

[sannidh]

On 3/24/2024 at 2:29 AM, austollie said:

 

Oh yes please!  I have respect for copyright and intellectual property rights, so I won't buy direct clones, but if there are pens that have been 'inspired' by (rather than directly copied from) this marvellous MB, I'd love to see the pics.

 

I'm a great fan of the Lamy 2000 (one of my daily writers) and when I bought the Kaco Edge, which has clearly been inspired by the Lamy 2000 without actually copying it, I couldn't believe how good it was at a small fraction of the cost.  I prefer cartridge to piston fillers and in that respect the Kaco is ahead of the Lamy product in my book (others will likely see it differently).  

I am guilty of purchasing this to house the Nagahara Sr. tuned NMF Nib.